Two top pitchers in NCAA softball will meet in Women's College World Series semifinals
On Monday night at 7 p.m. ET, fans of college softball will be treated to what is shaping up to be one of the best pitcher's duels of the NCAA Tournament. In the semifinals of the Women's College World Series, No. 2 Oklahoma will face No. 12 Texas Tech.
The matchup will probably pit two of the best pitchers in the sport against each other. It's likely that Oklahoma ace Sam Landry will take the circle for the Sooners in a must-win game, while NiJaree Canady — arguably the sport's top arm — will lead the Red Raiders.
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Canady was the National Player of the Year last season at Stanford and in the offseason transferred to Texas Tech, wooed by what is reportedly the richest NIL deal in Division I college softball. According to ESPN, Texas Tech's NIL collective — the Matador Club — signed Canady to a $1,050,024 contract. She had taken Stanford to two straight World Series and aimed to do the same for the Red Raiders.
The investment by Texas Tech paid off in a big way. Canady was a unanimous First-Team All-American, the NFCA Pitcher of the Year and the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year. She led the Red Raiders to their first Big 12 Tournament title (where she pitched in every game and didn't allow a run), their first Super Regional appearance, and their first trip to the World Series in Oklahoma City.
Canady leads all of Division I softball in victories (32), ERA (0.86) and hits allowed per seven innings (3.61). She's also seventh in strikeouts per seven innings (9.5), seventh in shutouts (7), and fourth in strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.88). She's been an asset at the plate this season too with 11 home runs, 34 RBI and a .306 batting average.
And she's done all of this, apparently, while playing with an injured hamstring.
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While Canady has led Texas Tech to unprecedented heights, Landry is trying to keep Oklahoma in its throne atop the sport. The Sooners have won four straight national championships and are now just a few games away from winning a wildly impressive fifth consecutive title.
Like Canady, Landry came to Oklahoma via transfer, arriving in the offseason from Louisiana. She was coached there by current Texas Tech skipper Gerry Glasco.
This season, with Patty Gasso's Sooners, Landry was named a First Team All-American and the SEC Newcomer of the Year. She's piled up a 25-5 record, a 1.89 ERA and 180 strikeouts.
If necessary, Texas Tech and Oklahoma will face off twice on Monday night, but the first game is a must-win for the Sooners as the tournament is still in its double-elimination stage. A Game One victory for the Red Raiders would send them to the finals of the College World Series. A loss would set up a pivotal Game Two, giving the Sooners another chance to defend their title.
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This is where it's worth noting that Canady has won 10 straight games. Her last loss came on May 2 where she pitched just one inning against BYU. She hasn't lost a game where she's pitched multiple innings since April 17.
On Monday night, Oklahoma's dynasty is on the line, while Canady has the chance to grow her legend.
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